debt of nature

English

Noun

debt of nature

1. (euphemistic) Death, seen as an obligation that all living creatures must eventually pay.
   • 1850, T. S. Arthur, “Deacon Smith and his Violin”, in Sketches of Life and Character‎^[1], Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 76:

     Ten years after he had seen his son married^[sic], become a church member, and give up his carnal delights, old Deacon Smith paid the debt of nature. His last days he always called his best days.

Related terms

• pay the debt of nature